An East Cleveland dad thought his ‘world was ending’ after being struck down with a rare auto-immune disorder - now he’s fought back to open a Loftus fish and chip shop with his business partner.

Jody Jeffels set up bistro and coffee house The Kitchen back in March, but just a few weeks after opening he was hospitalised with the one-in-a-million disorder, autoimmune encephalitis.

Jody Jeffels, 33, of Brotton, who has set up a fish and chip shop with his partner (Image: Evening Gazette)

The 33-year-old, who had a two-year-old daughter and a baby on the way, was left reeling after doctors told him it could be incurable.

He said: “You feel as if your world’s ending, I was in hospital for six weeks; for three weeks, they weren’t sure what it was.

“I was worried about the four people I’d employed losing their jobs, and being self employed it’s a worry financially.

“I had people trying to run the business while I was in hospital, but they changed it to offer cheaper quality food, got their own staff in. We sold premium quality food, fresh ground coffee - it wasn’t what I was about. They weren’t from that type of background and it was a case of ‘make do’.

Jody Jeffels' new Loftus fish and chip shop (Image: Evening Gazette)

“I came out of hospital and thought ‘it’s time for a fresh start'.”

Jody posted on Facebook he was renting The Kitchen premises - and was approached by Coleen Agar, who has a background in the industry.

The pair knew each other growing up in Lingdale and decided to go into partnership to open West Road Fish and Chips.

“We use the best quality ingredients, all sourced at reasonable prices, people love traditional food, this is Great British food,” adds Jody.